I am the current president of a non-profit gun club. We are not classified as a charitable organization, but maintain our non-profit status through conservation work and allowing local police agencies and youth groups to use our facilities free of charge. In addition to rifle and pistol, we have shotgun, archery, hiking trails, and catch and release fishing for our members. We also hold paid public events in these various disciplines.

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase 70 acres of adjoining land, which would allow us to greatly expand our facilities, including the addition of a 500 yard rifle range. Having this land will also prevent subdivisions from being built there. If that happens, we will probably be fighting just to keep the club open in a few years.

We plan to raise membership dues to pay for a mortgage on this land, but the problem is that the bank wants $175,000 down and we do not have that kind of cash available. I'm asking for permission to post a link to a GoFundMe campaign to raise this down payment. The GoFundMe campaign will stipulate that if we are unable to complete the purchase, the donations will be refunded.

I have never asked for money here, and I felt a little bad about asking since this doesn't approach the level of personal tragedy experienced by others who have asked, but since it is a cause I am passionate about and the members have shown themselves to be generous and interested in promoting the shooting sports I thought I would ask.If you don't think it meets the criteria or will open a floodgate of requests to the detriment of this site, I gladly accept that decision.

PS: In case you think I was trying to paste the link before receiving permission, the link is to our club website so you could check us out. The GoFundMe isn't even active yet.